After getting off to a 3-0 start in the 2025 season, Auburn basketball prepares for one of its biggest tests of the season against the No. 1 ranked Houston Cougars.
Auburn traveled to Texas in last season’s matchup and won 74-69. Sunday’s contest will be a part of the Battleground 2k25 tournament played in Birmingham, Alabama.
Both programs participated in the 2025 Final Four with Houston advancing all the way to the national championship. The Cougars and the Tigers fell to eventual champions Florida Gators.
“Got to put a complete game together for us to be able to beat the best teams on our schedule, and we’ve got a really good one on Sunday,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl said.
AUBURN, ALABAMA – NOVEMBER 11: Head coach Steven Pearl of the Auburn Tigers yells instructions during the first half against the Wofford Terriers at Neville Arena on November 11, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Stew Milne/Getty Images)Getty Images
Here’s a closer look at Houston:
The team
Houston currently sits at 3-0 on the season after victories over Lehigh, Towson and Oakland. The Cougars have only allowed 50.0 points per game and are averaging 72.7 points in their first three games.
In the frontcourt, Houston is averaging 41.3 rebounds, and its backcourt averages 16.0 assists per game.
Houston is led by legendary coach Kelvin Sampson, who in his 11 seasons at Houston has led the Cougars to seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
Sampson is one of only 15 coaches in NCAA history to lead four or more schools to the NCAA Tournament. He’s also one of just 16 coaches to lead multiple schools to the Final Four.
Players to watch
Senior Emanuel Sharp is Houston’s leading scorer, averaging 17.3 points per game while shooting 50% from the floor. Sharp also adds 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists to his season stats.
Freshman guard Kingston Fleming is averaging 15.7 points per game, as five-star freshman center Chris Cenac Jr. averages 8.3 points and a team-high 9.0 rebounds.
Returning guard Milos Uzan leads the team with 4.7 assists per game and averages 8.7 points. Freshman Isiah Harwell eads the team with 2.5 steals per game and adds 6.0 points to his stat line.
Houston also returns sophomore guard Mercy Miller, son of hip-hop mogul Percy ‘Master P’ Miller. Miller averages 4.0 points per game on 11.0 minutes played.
Auburn and Houston will tip off at 2 p.m. CST inside Legacy Arena and it will be televised on ESPN.
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